What Do You Want To Know About Lupus?

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Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes
inflammation throughout your body. An autoimmune disease is a condition in
which your body’s own immune system is responsible for the inflammation and
breakdown of its own cells.

The inflammation seen in lupus can affect various
organs and tissues in your body, including your:

joints

skin

heart

blood

lung

brain

kidneys

This disease can be severe and potentially life-threatening.
It can cause permanent organ damage. However, many people with lupus experience
a mild version of it. Currently, there’s no known cure for lupus.

What are the symptoms of lupus?

The symptoms of lupus vary according to the parts of your
body affected. Symptoms can disappear suddenly. They can be permanent or flare
up occasionally. Although no two cases of lupus are the same, the most common
symptoms and signs include:

a fever

fatigue

body aches

joint pain

rashes, including a butterfly rash on the face

skin lesions

shortness of breath

chronic dry eyes

chest pain

headaches

confusion

memory loss

What are the possible causes of lupus?

Doctors and researchers aren’t sure what the exact causes of
lupus are. However, most believe that lupus may be caused by the following
factors:

Genetics

Although there’s no concrete evidence, most researchers
believe heredity plays a role. Having a family history of lupus doesn’t mean
you will develop it. However, you may have a slightly higher risk of developing
it.

Environment

Environmental triggers for the disease may include:

smoking

stress

toxins

silica dust

However, more research needs to be done to draw any definite
conclusions.

Exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light is the only environmental
influence that has been associated with skin inflammation and malar butterfly
rash in lupus. UV light exposure has also been associated with inflammation in
internal organs in people prone to developing lupus.

Hormones

Some studies suggest
that hormones could be responsible. Many doctors and researchers consider
abnormal estrogen levels to be a risk factor.

Infections

Some people infected with certain viruses, such as
cytomegalovirus, may develop lupus. The association between hepatitis C and
lupus is still under investigation. Direct causal links between these illnesses
and lupus have never been established. The Epstein-Barr virus has been linked
to the development of childhood lupus, but studies haven’t
been conclusive.

Medications

In some rare cases, the long-term use of certain medications
can trigger lupus. Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) is a subset of the
disease. Several dozen drugs are linked to DILE.

Some of the more common medications linked to DILE include medications
used to treat high blood pressure, such as hydralazine, and drugs used to treat
irregular heartbeats, including procainamide and quinidine.

DILE is a rare consequence of taking these medications on a
long-term basis.

Multiple Factors

Many doctors and researchers believe that a combination of
factors causes lupus. For example, someone with a family history of the disease
who’s exposed to certain environmental factors may develop it.